Frank shaw



.(No Model.)

F. SHAW.

. V HBADTELBPHONE; I Patented Dee. 5,--1882-- I ATTESi: WNVENTUH: W 75% w N. PETERS. PhMO-Liflgngnphen Waihi C UNITED STATES FRANK SHAW, OF NEW YORK,

AssIcNoR OF ()NEHALF TO WM. A.

OHILDS, OF SAME PLACE.

HEAD-TELEPHONE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,554, dated December 5, 1882,

Application filed October 18, 1682. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK SHAW, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Head-Telephone, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to appliances designed to support a listening-telephone against or in proximity to the ear of the user, so as to leave the hands free, and is designed to furnish a simple and effective device particularly suited to the needs of switch-hoard operators in telephone-exchange systems. Devices intended for this purpose have hitherto been cumbrous and heavy. My invention accomplishes the object without the use of metal springs or supporting curvedmagnets, and without adding materially to the weight of the telephone.

My invention consists in the combination, with a listening-telephone, ofaflexible band or strap secured to the telephone, and adapted to encircle the head of the listener and to hold the telephone against his car.

My invention consists, further, in the combination, with a listening-telephone, of a flexible and elastic band or strap secured to the telephone, adapted to encircle the head of the listenerand to hold the telephone against his ear.

My invention further consists in the combination, with a listening-telephone, of a flexible elastic band or strap adapted to encircle the head of the listener, and means for adjusting said strap toadapt the device to heads of different sizes.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows my improved head-telephone as applied to the head of the user. Fig. 2 is a rear View of the instrument.

A indicates a receivingtelephone of any desired form, but preferably of the disk form shown.

B in dicates a flexible strap, preferably of" some elastic material, which is secured to the back of the telephone by screws 0 (J, or by any other suitable devices. Said strap is of sufficient length, as indicated, to completely encircle the head of the user,.and by its elasticity to hold the telephone firmly against the ear without any other aids. By preference said strap is provided with a buckle, D, or with any other suitable device by which it may be lengthened or shortened at will to adjust it to.the head, or to compensate for the stretching of the band, if said band he made ofelastic material.

E is theordinary flexible connecting-cord, the bibranched terminals F F of which are connected to the two binding-posts, G G, of the telephone. Said cord passes beneath the band B, as shown, so that it is stayed in its position, and the loosening or breaking of the terminals connected to the binding posts is thereby largely prevented.

A head-telephone as thus constructed is much lighter, simpler, and cheaper than those hitherto devised, and at the same time fully accomplishes all the objects of such devices.

What I claim as my invention is 1. A head-telephone consisting of the receiving-telephone A, combined with the flexible band or strap B, adapted to encircle the head of the listener and to hold the telephone firmly against the ear. I

2. The combination of the listening-telephone A and the flexible and elastic endless band or strap B, adapted to encircle the head of the user, so to hold the telephone against his ear.

3. The combination of the telephone A, the flexible and elastic endless band B, adapted to encircle the head of the user, and means for adjusting the length of said band, as and for purpose described. I

4. The combination of the telephone A,the band B, secured thereto, and the connectingcord passing beneath said band, as and for the purpose described.

. Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 14th day of October, A. D. 1882.

' FRANK SHAW. Witnesses:

GEo. O. OOFFIN, THOS. TOOMEY. 

